Arjay Martin, J. D., B. Bus.

I wish we didn’t have to respond to this today. Our thoughts should be with Helen Haines, and praying for her speedy recovery. But the Labor and Liberal Dirt Units are already back at work, attempting to use this tragedy to silence their critics and deflect from their own failings. Too many media organisations are happy to help them fling the dirt. The Please Explain cartoons have nothing to do with the tragic attack on Helen Haines. They will not be going anywhere. Liberal and Labor politicians want our cartoons censored because they don’t like the scrutiny. Free speech, satire, criticism and debate are essential to our democracy. They must be protected. Those seeking to exploit this tragedy to silence their critics should be ashamed of themselves. What happened to Helen is heartbreaking. Politicians deserve to be safe. So does every other Australian. When violence touches politicians, the response is immediate: more security, more protection and demands for action. Where is that same urgency when ordinary Australians are attacked? Too many Australians have experienced violent home invasions, firebombings, machete and gun attacks and carjackings. Innocent Australians are being stabbed on the streets. They cannot call on a security detail. They rely on governments to keep their communities safe. Where has the Prime Minister been? Where is his determination to confront the crime and violence regular Australians face? One Nation will continue to hold the Albanese Labor government to account. We will keep speaking up for Australians whose safety and concerns have been ignored. We stand firmly against hatred, crime and violence. And we will keep working to unite all Australians under one flag.